GLOBAL
Military Cooperation Increases Sino-Russian Ties
Stratfor
The head of the Russian navy recently met with China’s top naval commander to discuss the furthering of naval and military-technical cooperation.
Changes in ABM Treaty Would Benefit Russia and the United States
(Ken Bacon stresses bilateral cooperation to avoid costly nuclear errors)
U.S.
Services Reviewing Requirements For Preferred Munitions
Defense Daily
The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps all are planning to review their requirements for precision guided munitions in light of their heavy use in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, senior military officials said yesterday.
RUSSIA & CIS & EASTERN EUROPE
Russians Firmly Reject U.S. Plan to Reopen ABM Treaty
The New York Times
Senior Russian officials on Wednesday strongly rejected an American proposal to renegotiate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, raising the stakes for the U.S. debate over antimissile defenses.
Russia's Putin, EU Head For Tough Talks On Chechnya
The New York Times
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin prepared Thursday for hard European Union questioning over his plans for Chechnya after Russia's military vowed to rid the breakaway region's capital of rebels.
Russia Upgrades Bombers in Ukraine
Stratfor
After two years of negotiations, Russia and Ukraine have finally agreed on conditions for Russia to update the bombers at its Black Sea Fleet naval base on the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine.
Popular Russian Prime Minister Tours Chechnya Front
The New York Times
With his own popularity ratings soaring, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday took a 10-minute ride aboard a Sukhoi 25 fighter plane during a one-day tour of the war zone along the border of the rebellious region of Chechnya.
Text: Talbott Testimony to House Panel Oct. 19 on Russia
(Prepared statement for House International Relations Committee)
* PUTIN TELLS RENO RUSSIA WANTS TO COOPERATERFE/RL NEWSLINE Part II
* YELTSIN SEEKS TO REASSURE CLINTON OVER CHECHNYA
* AZERBAIJAN'S MUSLIM LEADER ACCUSES MOSCOW OF GENOCIDE
End Note: OSCE EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER ELECTIONS IN CENTRAL ASIA* CZECH OPPOSITION PARTIES REJECT 'SUPER-COALITION'MONITOR -- A DAILY BRIEFING ON THE POST-SOVIET STATES
* 'SERBIAN ADOLF' NOT GUILTY OF GENOCIDE
* GRANIC WARNS CROATS AGAINST SELF-ISOLATION* Russian officials raise terrorism issue in Moscow and at UN...RFE/RL Russian Federation Report
* ..campaign fits broader Russian foreign policy goals
* G-7 officials laud Kremlin's efforts to control corruption...
* ...but skepticism remains as to strength of effort
* Federal forces make "progress" against "terrorism" in Chechnya
* Kyrgyzstan could report solid economic growth for 1999
* Fate of Uzbekistan's currency uncertain
* Uzbek-led Islamic rebels negotiating passage to Afghanistan* IVANOVO MAYOR GAINS CONTROL OVER OBLAST'S OLDEST DAILY
* OMSK ADMINISTRATION TO INSIST ON CASH
* GOVERNORS PREPARING TO NIX BUDGET?
BALKAN
Stratfors Kosov-News
Radio21: 20.10.1999 News
Radio21: 20.10.1999 The Transitional Council held a meeting in Prishtina today
MIDDLE EAST & AFRIKA
Palestinians Angry At Barak's Settlement Policy
The New York Times
A Palestinian negotiator said Wednesday that Palestinians were angered by a letter from a senior Israeli government adviser confirming the approval of the building of 1,798 Jewish settlement units.
Clinton to See Barak and Arafat in Effort to Speed Peace Moves
The New York Times
President Clinton will use a visit to Norway early next month to give "added momentum" to the Middle East peace effort and will meet there together with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, administration officials said Wednesday.
Barak: Lebanon pullout date is flexible - Prime minister says he 'won't jump off a tower' if withdrawal is delayed
Ha'aretz
Prime Minister Ehud Barak says the date for pulling the Israel Defense Forces out of Lebanon is flexible. The withdrawal might occur several months before schedule, or several months afterward, he said
Oslo set for Barak, Clinton and Arafat - In effort to advance final status talks
Ha'aretz
President Bill Clinton plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Oslo, Norway, in an effort to promote a final peace settlement, the White House said Wednesday.
IDF source claims Jezzine is starving
Ha'aretz
The economic situation in the Jezzine enclave has become so severe that there are reports of starvation, a senior military source has told Ha'aretz.
One outpost goes down, another grows
Ha'aretz
The unpopulated outpost of Hirbet Shouna near the West Bank settlement of Eli was evacuated yesterday without incident, according to the agreement between the Prime Minister and the Judea and Samaria Settlers (Yesha) Council.
In Cairo, complaints over Israeli leaks
Ha'aretz
Diplomatic sources in Egypt expressed anger last night at Israel, which it claims provoked a worsening in Egyptian-Syrian relations.
Transcript: Defense Secy Cohen, Zinni Press Conference in Qatar Oct. 19
(US is taking concrete steps to deepen defense relationship with Qatar)
ASIA
Pakistan's Dual Diplomacy
Stratfor
Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s decision to remove Pakistani forces from the border with India was an international public relations coup for his government
New Pakistani Leader Takes Aim at Corruption
The Washington Post
Today's front-page newspaper ad, placed by Pakistan's largest private bank, was one of the first visible signs that Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's new military ruler, meant business when he vowed Sunday to pursue the debtors, tax evaders and other financial scofflaws who have helped drive Pakistan's economy nearly into the ground.
Probe into Nawaz Sharif’s ‘financial misdeeds’ begins
The Hindustan Times
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan has initiated probe into ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s alleged involvement in bank frauds and charged him with financial misdeeds amounting to over 100 million US dollars, a media report said here today.
Text: Inderfurth: Pakistan's Coup Will Not Prevent U.S. Engagement
(Tells Congress U.S. agenda in South Asia depends on adequate funding)
Indonesia Chooses an Islamic Cleric as New President
The New York Times
In the first democratic transfer of power in its history, Indonesia chose a new President Wednesday, Abdurrahman Wahid, a respected Muslim leader whose message is tolerance, inclusion and self-respect.
Wahid Election Maintains Indonesia's Elite
Stratfor
The Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) elected Abdurrahman Wahid president Oct. 20 over Megawati Sukarnoputri by a vote of 373 to 313.
ARMS & ARMS TRANSFER
France, UK and Italy link up on new stand-off missile
Defence Data
Matra BAe Dynamics' Storm Shadow/SCALP EG missile is now to be supplied to the Italian Air Force under a joint procurement programme managed by the UK Ministry of Defence's Defence Procurement Agency (DPA).
IAI suggests MiG 21 upgrades for China
Ha'aretz
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Ho Tien, in Israel this week, yesterday held talks with Israel Aircraft Industry (IAI) executives to examine the possibility of enhancing relations between China's military and Israeli defense industries
Confidence Over US-Israeli Target Test Of Arrow 2
Jane’s Defence Weekly
The Israeli-US Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile system is scheduled to attempt its first intercept of a live target early next month, almost a year after it was originally expected to try.
ABC
Cuba Testing Birds For Germ Warfare, Exile Says
Miami Herald
A Cuban exile living in Switzerland contends that Cuba has been experimenting since 1980 with bacteriological warfare, using birds as carriers.
TERRORISM
FSB Names an Egyptian Man As Suspect in Bombing Probe
Moscow Times
The Federal Security Service said Wednesday it suspects an Egyptian man of sponsoring the September bombings of two Moscow apartment buildings that killed more than 200 people.